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The "Once in a while" 1983 Scrambler Laredo Build

One problem solved

I figured I would attach a final wiring diagram for those using a Painless Wiring harness on a Jeep CJ with Howell EFI and an HEI distributor.

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I forgot to attach the brown wire to the I terminal from the painless kit which is why I couldn't shut the engine off with the key, works like a charm now.

I also had the purple wire from the Howell EFI harness on the I terminal instead of its rightful place on the S terminal of the starter solenoid. That however, didn't solve my problem of the jeep dying after about 10 seconds of running. To diagnose this I noticed the check engine light come on briefly right before it died...followed the Howell instructions and jumper'd the A and B terminals in the diagnostic port and got a code of 33. Code 33 means "MAP Sensor Low Vacuum." I THINK this is because there were two vacuum lines that were previously connected to my charcoal canister which I have left off the Jeep and just plugged them temporarily. I will have to dig into that more in the next couple days.

But I have eliminated one problem and identified (I hope) the cause for the other. Progress is progress.
 
It's alive!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, no video yet. It isn't video worthy until I get the exhaust on there, right now its just an open-header. But I had been having trouble for the past week ever since I first got it to fire off and wired correctly. It wouldn't stay running for longer than 5-7 seconds. Which was racking my brain because it had fuel, spark, was timed to 0 TDC. I have been troubleshooting so long I was about to hang myself by the light pole in the development as an effigy for any wary "Scrambler Rebuilders" to be warned. :banghead:

So this morning while I am sucking on a MAP sensor vacuum port and my lovely wife is holding the negative probe of my volt-meeter to the battery I thought I had it figured out. I was only getting a drop of about 1 volt from 5v to 4v on the MAP sensor. I thought I had it licked. Decided to go to Auto Zone and rent a vacuum pump just to be sure, (I'm not as good at sucking as I used to be) :huh:

The theory was, if the MAP sensor isn't seeing a drop in Volts from 5-1v when vacuum is applied then it is bad and I have solved the mystery of why the Howell EFI and HEI Distributor combo isn't staying running. But then I hooked the vacuum pump up and sure as anything the MAP was good. This was where the suicidal thoughts came about.

However I got a call from OneTon that him and another Scrambler owner were stopping buy to check out my progress. When I attempted to show them the problem I was having, the battery cable connector on the negative terminal of the battery arc'd. They discovered that the bolts holding the wire into the clamp were touching the top of the battery and grounding. We slid the connector up on the battery post a little and guess what.

IT RAN!!!!!!!!!!! :bacon: and DIDN'T DIE :crazy:

Here is a picture of the 2 Scramblers who's owners were responsible for backing me away from the cliff.

Thanks!

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Now hurry up and get it finshed, so we can get some mud on it, LOL LOL It is going to be a nice one when finshed.
hard to think that was what was giving you all that trouble.
 
One ton said:
Now hurry up and get it finshed, so we can get some mud on it, LOL LOL It is going to be a nice one when finshed.
hard to think that was what was giving you all that trouble.
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I'm tryin! Exhaust guy said next Thursday would be good if you are ok with that?

Yea for you and Big YEA for teamwork!!!
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Teamwork is right! I would have never in a million years thought that would be the problem of it dying after a few seconds. Now, I had seen it arc before, and as a result I couldn't motorize the starter. Thought I fried the starter a couple times and took it to get tested, tested fine. When they got here and raised that terminal off the top of the battery and it stayed running. I about crapped my pants. Who knew :shrug:
 
Great news! :thumbsup:

One of the best parts of our Jeeping Scrambler family is, we learn something almost every time we work (read "play") with our Jeep or talk to a fellow Jeeper. :bacon:

Nice picture. Need to add another one soon! :wave:
 
I started mine today..LOL My last upgrade was a D.U.I. ignition, Weber Carb and a electric fuel pump. My truck starts first time,every time now, even after setting up for a month. I firmly believe that the ignition upgrade is well worth the cost. I'm not as impressed with the Weber carb however.
 
zr10054 said:
I started mine today..LOL My last upgrade was a D.U.I. ignition, Weber Carb and a electric fuel pump. My truck starts first time,every time now, even after setting up for a month. I firmly believe that the ignition upgrade is well worth the cost. I'm not as impressed with the Weber carb however.
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I agree...I am happy with the ignition as well. I can't wait to get an exhaust on it to get the timing really dialed in. If you ever are considering a Howell TBI, I would say go for it. It's a pretty simple installation and the harness is practically plug and play.

Great news!

One of the best parts of our Jeeping Scrambler family is, we learn something almost every time we work (read "play") with our Jeep or talk to a fellow Jeeper.

Nice picture. Need to add another one soon!
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Will do. Thanks again for your help too Toby. Hope to have pictures of the exhaust and the video of it running next Friday.
 
Yes, Yes, Yes! :woohoo::cheers::woohoo:

That's the way to start the New Year.
 
I just read about 100 pages on another forum about aftermarket HEI's and the use of hardened gears vs iron gears and the results of hardenened gears chewing up your cam gear. Pretty scrary stuff. Was this issue a consideration when you selected your HEI?

Also, if I may ask, are you starting your vehicle with only the exhaust manifolds attached and nothing beyond? Thank you, this thread is excellent.
 
JeepGuy66 said:
I just read about 100 pages on another forum about aftermarket HEI's and the use of hardened gears vs iron gears and the results of hardenened gears chewing up your cam gear. Pretty scrary stuff. Was this issue a consideration when you selected your HEI?

Also, if I may ask, are you starting your vehicle with only the exhaust manifolds attached and nothing beyond? Thank you, this thread is excellent.
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I had read that as well. From what I saw most of the posts were back from 2006-2007 and didn't necessarily pertain to the CRT HEI distributor...although the HEI distributors that were purchased from Ebay were titled as a CRT distributor, an imitation from what I saw. I had talked to several people, including some on here, who clarified it as either false claims by someone who thought they had a CRT HEI distributor or a possible actual failure of the cam gear due to the hardened gear on an AMC v8 not the 258.

Yes I did start the Jeep with just the exhaust header(aftermarket) on and no exhaust. I did this to just make sure it would fire up and run, meaning I hadn't screwed stuff up too much with the wiring installs. Now it sits in the garage until I can trailer it to the exhaust shop next thursday.

Thanks for the compliments.
 
Well, it MOVES UNDER IT'S OWN POWER :bacon: For about 5 feet forward, then in reverse right back to where it was parked. :rotfl: I wanted to get the hood on today as well as bleed the brakes and power steering system, and clean all the crap out of the Jeep in preparation for loading it on a trailer to go to the exhaust shop on Thursday. I will be at work 24hrs a day for the next 3 days so this was my last chance to get it "driveable" to make loading a little easier.

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The hood fit pretty good right off the bat. It looks like the drivers side fender is about 1/8 inch lower than the passenger side. I will have to sort that out when I get it back from the shop.
 
Man that thing looks good, See ya Thursday I bet it will wook real good when the top is on, Then we got to take them for a ride around town and take the ladys out to eat.
Chop Shop you best get to finshing yours we going to have a Gettogether soon. Like a big 2 day summer one if you ever get yours done, LOL LOL
 
One ton said:
Man that thing looks good, See ya Thursday I bet it will wook real good when the top is on, Then we got to take them for a ride around town and take the ladys out to eat.
Chop Shop you best get to finshing yours we going to have a Gettogether soon. Like a big 2 day summer one if you ever get yours done, LOL LOL
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I've got the tops ready. They are unfolded and sitting on the floor of the rec-room. :rotfl: See you Thursday, thanks again!
 
Man, I really like your wheels, I have been looking to change my chrome wheels out and really think I'm going to go with what you did. I'm assuming you went with the 15x8's?
 
That's just dead sexy! That green is amazing and the combo Grn/Black is perfect. can't wait to see it at the nationals...wink wink
 
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